Tool box



June 24, 1.930. A. J WELLS I 57 TOOL BOX Filed Jul -17, I928 2 sheets sheet i INVENTOR. 6 m J R iM ATTORNEY.

A. J. WELLS TOOL BOX Filed July 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jliarz J 7142149,,

- ATTORNEY.

Patented June 24, 193i) ALTON :r. WELLS, or BE L, CALIFORNIA TOOL Box Application filed July 17,

This invention is a container for various articles and is particularly applicable for use as a tool box, a primary ob ect ofthe invention being to provide a readily transportable 6 container adapted for reception of various tools and the like in superimposed trays or compartments Which may be conveniently withdrawn to permit access to the respective trays and to the body of the container.

It is a further object of the invention to arrange the superimposed trays for positive support with relation to the box when. either withdrawn or nested inthe container, and to also adapt thetrays for withdrawal in opposite directions so that apair of the trays may uncover one another and also expose the body of the box for simultaneous access thereto. X I Y It is a still further object of the invention to provide an extremely practical but simple and economical supporting means for the trays, by preferably formingthe supporting means as well as the main box and tray structures of suitable stamped metal having the necessary lugs formed integral with the supporting plates for cooperation with the sliding trays to support the same in either withdrawn or nested position.

Further objects of theinvention will be readily understood from the following de scription of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention showing the superimposed trays in their extended position. 1

Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly broken away and showing the trays nested in the box. 3 3

Fig. 1 is a detail longitudinal section-onthe line 4 4= of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse section. on the line 5-5 of'Fig. 2.

The invention isillustrated as embodied in a container of a type adapted to'form a readily transportable. box for tools .or the like; and is preferably of stamped sheet metal suitable instanced as forming an open-top receptacle 1' 1928. Serial No. 293,403.

when the cover is closed it engages the upper edge of thereceptacle 1 and formsan enclosed space in the container ofappreciable vertical height. Thecover may be suitably locked in its closed position, as shown for example at 5, an'dthe top 2 may be provided with a handle 6 for carrying the closed contamer. e e. I A plurality of trays 10' aresupported in the upperenclosed portion of the container formed by the cover, and are adapted for sliding withdrawal when the cover is swung back to its'open position in order to permit convenient access to the trays and to the space i OFFWE j I ing side walls-3, withthe cover hinged to the I V open-top receptacle as shown ate so that within the receptacle 1. The trays are shown as supported between sideplates ll'which proj ect upwardly above the sides of receptacle 1 into the space defined by the closed cover, and the trays are adapted foropposite sliding withdrawal while maintaining their sup-. port between plates, 11, so that by employing a pair of. trays and oppositely withdrawing them, both of the trays as .well as receptacle I 1 will be exposed for accessthereto as shown in Figs. 1, and,2. When the container is closed, the :trays 10 nestone above another 7 between the side plates 11 so that the closed cover will overlie the same as shown in Fig. 3. i The sliding mounting for each of the trays provides an adequate support forthe tray when in eitheritsretracted or extended position, and for thispurpose the tray, which is preferably of stamped sheet metal, may be formed at its sides with rolled guideways 12 terminating short of the front and rear edges of the trayf and adaptedvfor sliding reception of supporting tubes 13. These tubes are in turn slidably mounted on supporting rods 14: which extend along the side 1 plates 11, so that the trays may be retracted and extended by relative telescoping and extension of rods 14, tubes 13 and guideways 12. The relative extension and telescoping of these parts may be limited by pin and slot connections, shown as pins 15 projecting from rods 14 at their inner ends and received in slots 16 extending along the tubes 13 at their outer'endportions, and lugs 17' preferably integrally stamped from the outer ends of tubes 13 and received in slots 18 ex- 7 ways 12. The slots 16-18 terminate short of the ends of tubes 13 and guideways 12 so as to form abutment means for pins 15 and lugs 17, and the parts are so arranged as to limit the extension of the tray at a point where it will just substantially clear receptacle 1, with suiiicient lengths of tubes 13 still engaging rods 14 to afford adequate supports for the tubes, and preferably approximately one-half the lengths of guideways 12 engaged by the tubes 13 to adequately support the tray as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. r The pin and slot connections also limit telescoping of the parts at a point substantially completely nesting tubes 13 on rods 14 with the guideways 12 in turn nested on the tubes medially of their length so as to position the tray entirely within'the enclosed space defined by the container.

The mountings for rods '14 on the side plates 11 may comprise suitable lugs stamped integral with the side plates andturned inwardly therefrom at the respective ends of the side plates as shown in Fig. 1 and the pair of lugs for each rod 1d preferably in-.

cludes an ear 20 through which the inner end of the rod extends and is riveted or otherwise suitably fixed thereto as shown at 21, and a recessed support 22 in which the inner end of the tube 13 and the guideway-12 mounted on the outer end of the 'rod is slidably received; The rods 14 for the respective superimposed trays have their lugsQO-Qilposi tioned on side plates ll in such vertically spaced relation as to permit nesting "of the trays one above another and entirely within the enclosure formed by the cover of the receptacle when the latteris closed; and to permit withdrawal of the respective trays in opposite directions the lugs 2022 for the reversed with relation to the front and rear of the container as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

so that the tubes 13 for the respective trays are adapted to slide in opposite directions on their rods 14; and thereby extend the trays in opposite directions beyond the front and rear of receptacle 1 as shown in Fig. 1.' v

The construction as thus described provides for convenient nesting of the trays in vertically spaced relation above the recepta cle 1 so that its cover may be closed and the respective trays as well as the body of the receptacle may form containers for various articles such as tools, etc., and the invention also provides for withdrawing and adequately supporting the trays in extended position when the cover for the container is opened, so that access may be simultaneously had to both the trays and to the main body of the receptacle. The mounting of rods 1 on the stamped side plates 11 permits of extremely simple and economical manufacture and assembly of the container, and the reversed disposition of the lugs 20-122 for the respective trays permits the use of interchangeable tray units while providing for their opposite extension beyond the main receptacle.

I claim:

1. A container comprising 'a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending. side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, and a tray fixed against vertical displacement and slidably mounted on the receptacle for retraction and support in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for extension beyond the receptacle when the cover is removed. v

2. A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, and a pair of trays fixed against vertical displacement and oppositely slidably mounted in vertically spaced relation on the receptacle for retraction and support in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for extension in opposite directions beyond receptacle when the cover is removed.

3. A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, guide rods supported by and fixed against vertical displacement relative to the receptacle above the same, and a trayfixed against vertical displacement relative to the guide'rods and slidably mounted thereon for retraction in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for extension beyond the receptacle when the cover is removed.

4. A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting onthe receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, guide rods sup ported by and fixed against vertical displacement relative to the receptacle in vertically spaced relation above the same, and a pair of trays fixed against vertical displacement relative to the respective vertically spaced guide rods and oppositely slidably mounted thereon for retraction in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for extension in opposite directions beyond the receptacle when the cover is removed.

5. A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for disand project the tray beyond the receptacle when the cover is removed. I

6. A contalner comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted fordisplaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, horizontal guide rods supported by the receptacle above the same, supporting tubes slidable on the,

guide rods, a tray slidably mounted on the supporting tubes, means for limiting relatlve telescoping and projection of the guide rods and the supporting tubes and tray to retract-v the tray in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and project the tray beyond the receptacle when the cover is removed, the said limiting means maintaining an appreciable telescopicengagement of the guide rods and the supporting tubes and tray when the tray is projected in order to provide a braced support for the projected tray.

7 A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover.

above the open-top receptacle, horizontal guide rods supported by the receptacle above the same, supporting tubes slidable on the guide rods, a tray slidably mounted on the supporting tubes, means for limiting relative telescoping and projection of the guide rods and thesupporting tubes and tray to retract the tray in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and project the tray beyond the receptacle when thecover is removed, the tray when projected having a bearing support on the supporting tubes throughout approximately one-half the length of said tubes, and the supporting tubes having a bearing support of appreciable length on the guide rods. a

8. A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable' mounting on the receptacle 'so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, side plates projecting upwardly from the receptacle intosaid enclosed space and having lugs at their respective ends, guide rods extending along the sideplates and supported by the lugs, and a tray slidably mounted on the guide rods for retraction in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for extension beyond the receptacle when the cover :isremoved, the lugs at one end of the side plates being "adapted forfixed connection of the guide rods thereto,"and the lugs at the opposite end of the side plates'formin'g recessed supports for the guide rods and traypermitting said retractionandextension of the tray. Q

v j 9." A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, side plates projecting upwardly from the receptacles into said enclosed space and having vertically spaced lugs at their respective ends, guide rods extending along the side plates and supported by the vertically spaced lugs, and a pair of trays oppositely slidably mounted on the vertically spaced guide rods for retraction in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for exten sion in opposite directions beyond the receptacle when the cover is removed, the lugs for the respective guide rods including an car at one end of a fixed connection ofthe guide rod thereto and a recessed support at the opposite end of the side plate for slidably supporting the tray and the guide rod," the said lugs for the guide rods for the respective trays being reversed with relation to the ends of the side plates to permit said opposite extension of the respective trays.

10. A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, guide rods. supported by the receptacle above the same, a tray having rolled edges forming guideways adapted to receive said guide rods for slidably mounting the tray for retraction in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for extension and projection of the tray beyond the receptacle when the cover I is removed. 7

11. A container comprising a receptacle having an open top, a cover having a top and depending side walls and adapted for displaceable mounting on the receptacle so as to define an enclosed space within the cover above the open-top receptacle, side plates projecting upwardly from the receptacle into said enclosed space and havinglugs at their respectiveends, guide rods extending along the side plates and supported by the lugs, and a tray slidably mounted on the guide rods for retraction in said enclosed space when the cover is in place and adapted for extension beyond the receptacle when the cover is removed.

side plate adapted for r 12. A container comprising a receptacle, guide rods supported by the receptacle, a tray having rolled edges forming guideways adapted to receive said guide rods for slid- 5 ably mounting the tray for retractionin the receptacle or extension and tray beyond the receptacle.

In testimony whereof he has aflixed his signature to this specification.

ALTON J. WELLS.

projection of the 

